Trump to pause migration from ‘third world countries’

When Kabul fell to the Taliban, Mr Lakanwal was evacuated to the US through Operation Allies Welcome, a Biden-era programme, arriving in Washington state on Sept 8 2021.

Most of the 190,000 Afghans who arrived under the programme were allowed to enter and remain in the US for two years.

Mr Lakanwal was initially sponsored by a local faith organisation and worked low-paid jobs as his immigration case worked its way through the system.

His two-year parole expired in mid-2024, leaving him undocumented and he applied for asylum that December, claiming he feared Taliban reprisals.

After vetting, the Trump administration granted him asylum and a work permit in April this year.

Mr Trump’s angry post, which finished by wishing Americans a happy Thanksgiving, marked an escalation in the anti-migrant policies of his second term dominated by a mass deportation campaign.

“These goals will be pursued with the aim of achieving a major reduction in illegal and disruptive populations,” Mr Trump said on Thursday. “Only reverse migration can fully cure this situation.”